The objectivity of ethics and the unity of practical reason

Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, Peter Singer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evolutionary accounts of the origins of human morality may lead us to doubt the truth of our moral judgments. Sidgwick tried to vindicate ethics from this kind of external attack. However, he ended The Methods in despair over another problem-an apparent con?ict between rational egoism and universal benevolence, which he called the "dualism of practical reason." Drawing on Sidgwick, we show that one way of defending objectivity in ethics against Sharon Street's recent evolutionary critique also puts us in a position to support a bold claim: the dualism of practical reason can be resolved in favor of impartiality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9-31
Number of pages23
JournalEthics
Volume123
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Philosophy

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